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Mazda RX-8 Prices Paid and Buying Experience

903 messages,  Last post on Apr 01, 2012 at 10:19 AM

You are in the Mazda RX-8 Forum.

What is this discussion about? Mazda RX-8, Coupe

Messages Page 86 of 91

#844 of 903 Re: trispec....congrats on the new ride.... [lhess] by trispec

Sep 07, 2005 (7:04 pm)

Replying to: lhess (Sep 05, 2005 7:31 am)
Yep. Nordic Green Mica is the closest to the Shinka purple type color, but I like green as a color better than purple.
 
Picked her up this evening. Her name is Arwen Evenstar. The RX-8 AT sports pkg. is perfect for the Boston traffic reality, literally skipping directly to the gear it needs for performance and efficiency. I'm not into the manually shifting, since first and second would be all one needs in Boston. The four speed AT appears to get into overdrive at 35mph, often directly from 2nd gear skipping over 3rd. I'm thinking my gas millage is going to just fine.
 
Anybody driven the 6 speed AT in the Mazda 6 yet. does it skip several gears regularly in urban traffic?
 
I'm keeping rpm under 4K for the first 500 miles. Hard stops and acceleration are also avoided, but then stopping on a dime and zooming 0 to 25 from the stop lights is barely using this beauty.
 
Love the head room. As a 6' 1" 220 dude, I don't feel packed in too tight, just nice and snug for the turns.

#845 of 903 anybody test drive Manual and Automatic?? by secondcity

Sep 07, 2005 (8:07 pm)

I own a 6spd manual -Pearl White RX8- with GT package and a few extras. I have all options/upgrades except leather.
I know manuals usually out perform most automatics, and the Rx8 manual has about 40 more horses under the hood.
My first question is... Is there a huge difference in performance between The AT and MT, or is it slight?
The reason I am asking is people have asked me about the difference between the two options in trannies. I have mostly driven stick--so my opinion is obviously biased. Some co-workers want to know if the AT has, at least, decent performance. Is it quick off the line?
---Can it achieve 0-60 in under 7? -Or is it too sluggish?
 People getting onto fast moving expressways/highways like to know that. At least my questioners do.
Is the gas mileage the same --or better than the manual?.
I have always gotten better gas mileage in manuals.
I know this is about buying experience--but I have three Rx8 admirers who like manual--but would rather have an automatic because that is their preference. Anybody test drive both?? This would aid their possible experience."

#846 of 903 Re: anybody test drive Manual and Automatic?? [secondcity] by trispec

Sep 08, 2005 (3:15 am)

Replying to: secondcity (Sep 07, 2005 8:07 pm)
Just got my RX-8 AT, but I was a total stick man for decades, until the Boston traffic reality beat my clutch knee and ankle into total submission. Once switching to driving AT cars I had a fundamental shift (no pun) in my thinking, see below.
 
Don't let the lower RX-8 AT 197 HP number fool you. There's MORE torq, in the AT, cause Mazda used their torq converter lowered the HP. I can tell you, even without full throttle, my tires are chirping and the Lim Slip Dif is definitely working in my RX-8 AT. Accelarating out of a curve has the DSC kicking in even on dry pavement. The auto tranny is lightening fast, going between gears way faster than a human could do it. The AT is going to get you better gas millage in the city because it gets inito over drive (4th) the very second that performance is not needed. Highway millage, is probably going to be better with the sticks.
 
But, if you want to shift so that you keep the RPMs in the 4K-7K power band, just use the paddle shifters. You can simulate smooth shifting by letting off the gas the instant you paddle shift. You can easily maximize the torq for 0-60 or more importantly 50-80 for passing.
 
My comments on auto trannies vs sticks after decades of driving both.
 
First, urban stop and go traffic is NOT the place for sticking it, because the energy, concentration and coordination to properly shift gears, can't always be maintained, especially when the driver is tired or dealling with the maters of life in hour long commutes.
 
Second, urban traffic demands, that you get it in gear each time perfectly, over literally thousands of shifts without stalls or missed gears, otherwise the guy behind your is going to be on the horn, throwing profanities, or up butt with a bumper.
 
Third, stomping on the gas with an AT vs clutching, will in most cases, get a car going quicker from the first 0-25mph.
 
Fourth, humans are not machines of perfections at all times. Shifting, when not for fun, is just a machine action.

#847 of 903 Re: anybody test drive Manual and Automatic?? [trispec] by secondcity

Sep 09, 2005 (3:06 pm)

Replying to: trispec (Sep 08, 2005 3:15 am)
I appreciate your response--I love stick and i am glad I made that choice--but in stop and go traffic in downtown Chicago-it can be a pain in the...
I'm glad to hear that the RX8 AT has good acceleration too.
A few co-workers of mine want an auto sports car/with looks and roominess/ as well as some performance to it.
Most, if not all, of the performance car magazines have only dealt with the Rx8 manual transmission-not the AT.
Thanks again for your response. I guess its up to these people to test drive both the AT and MT and choose which transmission fits their driving expectations.

#848 of 903 Re: anybody test drive Manual and Automatic?? [secondcity] by dwynne

Sep 09, 2005 (3:18 pm)

Replying to: secondcity (Sep 09, 2005 3:06 pm)
It has been posted here previously, but I thought I would remind you the 06 RX-8 w/AT is SUPPOSED to come with a little more power (still less than the 6mt car) and a new 6 speed auto tranny.
 
So if you wanted to get an auto RX-9, I think I would wait for an 06.....
 
Dennis

#849 of 903 Shinka Pricing in LA by emeraldhue

Sep 21, 2005 (12:07 pm)

I just bought a Shinka 6sp MT from Claremont Ford/Mazda last week for $29,000 even in LA. The Shinka, with extra optional packages, had an MSRP of $34,5##. I did not need to haggle because I gave them a price to beat from another dealership. I don't know if they have any left. Browning Auto Group from Cerritos (also in LA) had a few left. They had a ad for $5000 off the sticker price (which includes the $1000 rebate from Mazda if you finance with MAC). So if you live near LA and want to buy a brand new Shinka, check out those two dealerships. Don't bother with the dealership in Alhambra. When I took Browning's offer to them, a sales manager accused me of lying! I even called Browning back and had them repeat their offer over the phone (I held my phone next to the sales manager's ear), he simply said he didn't hear anything. A total jerk...can't do business with this kind of attitude.

#850 of 903 emeraldhue ,,, congrats on the new car ,,,, by lhess

Sep 21, 2005 (1:07 pm)

the shinkas look great! Be safe driving!!

#851 of 903 Does anyone know... by prguy77

Nov 21, 2005 (2:06 pm)

... where the most up to date information on current rebates and incentives can be found? I went to a southern CA Mazda dealer yesterday and he told me about the $5k in current rebates ($3500 cash and additional $1500 for financing with MAC). But this wonderful website still lists $1k and $1.5k as the current rebates.
 
Thanks!

#852 of 903 Re: Does anyone know... [prguy77] by thel

Nov 22, 2005 (11:36 am)

Replying to: prguy77 (Nov 21, 2005 2:06 pm)
Mazdausa.com should have all the available rebates listed for your area...except the factory to dealer incentives.

#853 of 903 Incentives in DC Area by duke15

Dec 30, 2005 (9:24 am)

I have met with a couple of dealers and have some information on the Virginia, DC-area incentives. There is a $1500 factory to dealer incentive, plus a $1000 incentive to the customer if they finance with Mazda credit. I don't know how the Mazda credit rates are - I would be interested in knowing if they have competitves rates (with good credit) if anyone cares to comment. I was offered $27500 at one dealer for a black, GT, app pkg, spoiler, chaperal seats; and $27700 for the same, but black leather seats and spare tire pkg at another dealer. Ultimately, I passed on both, as I have decided that I need an incredible deal on the 2005, or order a 2006 with the Costco deal of $300 - $500 over invoice, so that would be $2500-$3000 more, but the AT is a 6-spd vs a 4-spd and has 15 extra HP. (I need the AT for DC traffic plus bad knees) If anyone is looking for a 2005, Browns Fairfax and Rosenthal in Tysons are both automatically giving you both incentives.

Messages Page 86 of 91

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